NHL
Jeff Skinner Traded to Buffalo Sabres
August’s first movement saw Carolina Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner traded to the Buffalo Sabres. In return, the Hurricanes received prospect Cliff Pu, Buffalo’s 2019 NHL Draft second-round pick, and 2020 third- and sixth-round picks.
Skinner – I know a few people that played in Buffalo and it was all positive things. Talking about the organization, the fans, the city. Add that with that young core. I'm excited to be a piece of that puzzle.
— WGR 550 (@WGR550) August 3, 2018
It’s a good sign that he’s excited to start with his new team. Skinner waived his no-movement clause, allowing the Hurricanes to initiate the trade. While there may have been more teams interested in acquiring the winger, Skinner was only informed of Buffalo.
“He creates a lot of chances at even strength and he’s going to complement us well,” said Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill.
20 out of Skinner’s 24 goals during 2017-18 came at even strength. In the previous season, it was 30 of 37 goals. Buffalo ranked at the bottom of the league last season in even strength goals, making his consistency an asset.
A 13-game goal drought made for a tough February, but he still finished the season strong with 49 points. Buffalo is hoping to see Skinner’s numbers spike again to the 63 points he amassed during 2016-17. Skinner is well-known for ranking high in shooting percentage, but that also saw a decrease from 13.2 percent in 2016-17 to 8.7 percent in 2017-18. There’s nothing to suggest this slide will continue, so the Sabres should see return on their investment.
Buffalo’s Future
The Sabres have Jeff Skinner. It’s a major win for the team and they didn’t have to lose anyone else from the roster to get him. It is unclear right now where Skinner will fit into the lineup. He could be placed on the top line with center Jack Eichel or the Sabres could even their available talent over the top two lines.
Skinner will be an unrestricted free agent following next season and his future is still wide open. He has not begun new contract talks with Buffalo yet, stating he’s focused on starting the season. The team’s success this coming season and upcoming potential could convince Skinner to sign with them. With over $6.4 million remaining in cap space following Skinner’s acquisition, Buffalo is in good shape to begin negotiations.
Carolina’s Future
The Hurricanes gained three pieces in the trade for Skinner, but will it be beneficial? Acquiring a first-round pick from a team currently in a rebuilding phase would have been ideal. Buffalo could finish low in the standings and that means better odds of acquiring an NHL-ready player. However, they got Buffalo’s 2019 second-round pick.
It’s hard to guarantee whether prospects are going to be capable of NHL-level play. Some first-round picks don’t work out, while some fourth and fifth-round picks end up being star players. Having those three picks will better the odds of the Hurricanes getting something valuable, but it isn’t a sure thing.
With the Hurricanes trending toward younger players, gaining prospects that show talent isn’t the worst move. Cliff Pu had 84 points in 65 games last season with the London Knights and Kingston Frontenacs in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In his OHL career, he has 210 points in 232 games. Gaining experience in the American Hockey League (AHL) in the coming seasons will be key in evaluating his potential fit with the Hurricanes.
